By Garrick Hoffman

Huddled in the cozy, borderline Hobbit-ish size of the All Faiths Cathedral, and filling all of the seats, an audience composed primarily of students tuned into the poetry that was written and spoken by, respectively, three professors that teach right here at SMCC.

Professors Megan Grumbling, Mike Bove, and Quenton Baker all eagerly volunteered to participate in their poetry readings before the audience. Professor Bove, who brought a couple of professional publications that featured his work, prefaced the audience with, “It’s rare for a writer to have a chance to be able to show off their work to people. So if you’re wondering why I have these books with me, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

The poets/professors strongly demonstrated their capacities of deft talent, and it was both serene and engaging to hear them.

Professor Grumbling’s first poem, entitled The Heist, bore a true story of hers in which the stairs to her apartment were being renovated, when one morning she came out to see all of the replacement sills for the new set were entirely absent. Someone – or a menacing posse of some sort – had stolen the lumber. Although the contractors rebuilding the stairs had likely endured their share of exasperation, at least the theft served some inspiration to a nearby poet. Silver lining? Indeed, Professor Grumbling may argue.At one point Professors Grumbling and Bove aligned when Bove shared a poem that harbored a similar theme to one of Grumbling’s, which proved to be about the transcendence of seasons. Perhaps that joyous feeling of spring being around the corner influenced the sharing and/or writing of their work. Bets are on that everyone in the room that evening (and beyond, of course) are mentally singing “Hallelujah” as I type this, what with the warmer weather approaching, so the works and their accompanying themes were appropriate.

Professor Baker, who hails from Seattle, was the third and last to step up to the plate to share his poems. Baker was much less gentle with both his speech and his poetry, as his poetry revolved around more gravitational matter: the language was sometimes explicit, his voice was sometimes booming, and his disposition more passionate. For a few moments I felt like I was bearing witness to a poetry slam, which I’ve never been an audience for in the past, and in the midst of said slam, Professor Baker exhibited a charisma that took on an intimate glow. It’s no wonder poetry slams are exactly that – a slam – because the words gnaw their way into you intensely, rather than serenely.

The erudite, rigorously thought-out language of theirs really shone that night in the All Faiths Chapel, and as both a student of Grumbling’s and an advisee of Bove’s, I felt a degree of pride for them as they spoke before me. Seeing them beyond the superficial, seeing them shedding their armor and giving us a glimpse of what’s beneath, I learned things about them that I may not have otherwise if I hadn’t stepped into that space that night.

It’s also admirable of SMCC to support something like this. Sometimes artists are less revered, and their opportunities scant. Many schools put athletes on pedestals; some are gutting humanity programs and their faculties (does this sound familiar?), so I’m pleased to see my school support both its faculty members, its students, and the arts that they embrace, especially as someone who delights in myriad forms of art (writing, music, and photography, to name a few).

The next poetry reading will be held on April 22 from noon to 1:15 in the All Faiths Chapel.